Electrical current connector

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments are described that relate an electrical current connector. The electrical current connector can be configured to provide electrical current when pressure is applied to a prong set. This pressure can cause a contact to engage with a connector. This can complete a circuit that allows the electrical current to flow. The connector can be coupled to a cable that can be configured to transfer data along with the electrical current. The cable can have an inner portion that transfers the data while an outer portion that surrounds the inner portion transfers the current.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a divisional application of, and claims priority to,U.S. application Ser. No. 15/730,859 filed on Oct. 12, 2017. U.S.application Ser. No. 15/730,859 is hereby incorporated by reference.

GOVERNMENT INTEREST

The innovation described herein may be manufactured, used, imported,sold, and licensed by or for the Government of the United States ofAmerica without the payment of any royalty thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND

Many modern devices run off electrical power. This power can be receiveddirectly, such as from a wall outlet, or indirectly, such as from aninternal battery charged from a wall outlet or a replicable battery. Itcan be important for the power to be safely transferred from a supplierto the device or from one location to another.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a system, that is at least partially hardware,comprises a monitor component and a management component. The monitorcomponent can be configured to monitor a connection state of anelectrical connector to produce a monitor result. The managementcomponent can be configured to cause the electrical connector to beenergized based, at least in part, on the monitor result. When themonitor result indicates that the connection state is such that theelectrical connector is connected to an electrical apparatus, themanagement component can cause the electrical connector to be energized.When the monitor result indicates that the connection state is such thatthe electrical connector is not connected to the electrical apparatus,the management component can be configured to not cause the electricalconnector to be energized.

In another embodiment, an electrical connector comprises an engagementset, a plunger physically coupled to the engagement set, an energystorage device physically coupled to the plunger, a contact physicallycoupled to the energy storage device, and a current receiver connector.The energy storage device can be set at a force level such that when atrest the contact does not touch the current receiver connector. When theengagement set engages with a receptor, the engagement set canexperience a pressure. When the pressure meets a threshold, the pressurecan cause the plunger to move the energy storage device to overcome theforce level such that the contact touches the current receiverconnector. When the contact touches the current source connector, theengagement set can be energized.

In yet another embodiment, a cable can comprise an inner conduitconfigured to transfer a data to an apparatus. The cable can alsocomprise an outer conduit configured to transfer an electrical currentto the apparatus. The outer conduit can encompass the inner conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Incorporated herein are drawings that constitute a part of thespecification and illustrate embodiments of the detailed description.The detailed description will now be described further with reference tothe accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system comprising a monitorcomponent and a management component;

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a connector comprising anengagement set, a plunger, an energy storage device, a contact, and acurrent source connector;

FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a sliced view of a cable;

FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of an exposed profile view of thecable;

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a system comprising a processor anda computer-readable medium;

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a method comprising two actions;

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method comprising two actions;

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a method comprising three actions;

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a method comprising three actions;and

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a method comprising two actions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, an electrical current connector can be employed. Theconnector can connect one electrical channel to another. In one example,the connector is for a supply with power. If a person were toinadvertently touch a prong of the connector while the prong is powered,then the person could suffer physical injury. Therefore, the connectorcan be unpowered until appropriate pressure is applied, such as pressurefrom a female receiver.

The following includes definitions of selected terms employed herein.The definitions include various examples. The examples are not intendedto be limiting.

“One embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example”, “an example”, and soon, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) can include aparticular feature, structure, characteristic, property, or element, butthat not every embodiment or example necessarily includes thatparticular feature, structure, characteristic, property or element.Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment” may or maynot refer to the same embodiment.

“Computer-readable medium”, as used herein, refers to a medium thatstores signals, instructions and/or data. Examples of acomputer-readable medium include, but are not limited to, non-volatilemedia and volatile media. Non-volatile media may include, for example,optical disks, magnetic disks, and so on. Volatile media may include,for example, semiconductor memories, dynamic memory, and so on. Commonforms of a computer-readable medium may include, but are not limited to,a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, othermagnetic medium, other optical medium, a Random Access Memory (RAM), aRead-Only Memory (ROM), a memory chip or card, a memory stick, and othermedia from which a computer, a processor or other electronic device canread. In one embodiment, the computer-readable medium is anon-transitory computer-readable medium.

“Component”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to hardware,firmware, software stored on a computer-readable medium or in executionon a machine, and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or anaction(s), and/or to cause a function or action from another component,method, and/or system. Component may include a software controlledmicroprocessor, a discrete component, an analog circuit, a digitalcircuit, a programmed logic device, a memory device containinginstructions, and so on. Where multiple components are described, it maybe possible to incorporate the multiple components into one physicalcomponent or conversely, where a single component is described, it maybe possible to distribute that single component between multiplecomponents.

“Software”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to, one or moreexecutable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium that causea computer, processor, or other electronic device to perform functions,actions and/or behave in a desired manner. The instructions may beembodied in various forms including routines, algorithms, modules,methods, threads, and/or programs including separate applications orcode from dynamically linked libraries.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system 100 comprising a monitorcomponent 110 and a management component 120. The monitor component 110can be configured to monitor a connection state of an electricalconnector to produce a monitor result. The management component 120 canbe configured to cause the electrical connector to be energized based,at least in part, on the monitor result. When the monitor resultindicates that the connection state is such that the electricalconnector is connected to an electrical apparatus, the managementcomponent causes the electrical connector to be energized. When themonitor result indicates that the connection state is such that theelectrical connector is not connected to the electrical apparatus, themanagement component does not cause the electrical connector to beenergized.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a connector 200 comprising anengagement set 210 (illustrated as two prongs 210A and 210B, but more orless prongs may be employed), a plunger 220, an energy storage device230, a contact 240, and a current source connector 250. The plunger 220connects to the engagement set 210 and the energy storage device 230.The energy storage device connects to the contact 240 that physicallyaligns with the current source connector 240.

The energy storage device 230 can be a compression spring. Thecompression spring can be set at a force level such that when at restthe contact 240 does not touch the current receiver connector 250. Whenthe engagement set 210 engages with a receptor, the engagement set 210experiences a pressure. When the pressure meets a threshold (e.g.,equals or is greater than the threshold, is greater than the threshold),the pressure causes the plunger 220 to move the compression spring toovercome the force level such that the contact 240 touches the currentreceiver connector 250. When the contact 240 touches the current sourceconnector 250, the current receiver connector is energized.

In one embodiment, the engagement set 210 are prongs external to ahousing of the connector that directly experience the pressure. In oneembodiment, the engagement set 210 is internal to the housing. Thereceptor can have a male end and the engagement set 210 can be a femaleend. The receptor put pressure on the female end that ultimately causesthe contact 240 to touch the connector 250. With this, it can be moredifficult for a person using the connector to accidentally energize theconnector 200 and touch a part of the connector 200 to cause injury.When the pressure is no longer put on the engagement portion 210 (e.g.,the threshold is no longer met), then the connector 200 can becomedeenergized.

While the engagement portion 210 is illustrated as two prongs 210A and210B coupled to a single plunger 220, other implementations can bepracticed. In one example, the prongs 210A and 210B can have their ownplungers 220, own energy storage devices 230, and own contacts 240.These contacts 240 can correspond to individual current sourceconnectors 250 such that the prongs can be individually energized.Conversely, the contacts 240 can correspond to a single current sourceconnector 250 that causes energizing of the prongs 210A and 210B, and inturn the connector 250. The connector 200 (e.g., by way of the prongs210A and 210B) can be configured to individually energize or have bothcontacts 240 engage before energizing.

In one embodiment, the engagement portion 210 is the monitor component110 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the plunger 220, the energy storagedevice 230, and the contact 240 are the management component 120 ofFIG. 1. In one embodiment, the monitor component 110 of FIG. 1 and/orthe management component 120 of FIG. 1 can implement as software andcontrol the connector 200.

In one embodiment, the current source connector 250 could functioninstead as a current reception connector. Above, the current sourceconnector 250 is for when the connector 200 is part of an electricalsupply. However, the connector could be part of an electrical receiver.With this, the engagement set 210, plunger 220, energy storage device230, and contact 240 can be energized when coming into contact with anapparatus (e.g., an apparatus with a female end that receives the prongs210A and 210B). The current reception connector 250, and in turn whatconnects to the current reception connector 250, can be non-energizeduntil contacted by the contact 240 in response to the pressure.

FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a sliced view 300A of a cable 300and FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of an exposed profile view 300Bof the cable 300. The cable 300 can comprise an outer conduit 310 thatencompasses (e.g., surrounds regarding a cross-section view) an innerconduit 320. In one embodiment, the conduits 310 and 320 are separatedby a buffer 330, such as solid material or cooling liquid, to providephysical, electrical, and/or thermal isolation (and potentiallyprotection) for the conduits 310. The outer conduit 310 can transferelectrical current to an apparatus and the inner conduit 320 cantransfer data to the apparatus.

This transfer can be independent. In one example, the cable 300 connectsa first apparatus to a second apparatus. The first apparatus can sentelectrical current to the second apparatus by way of the outer conduit310. The second apparatus can use this electrical current to poweritself and transfer data along the inner conduit 320. Conversely, thecable 300 can have both current and data transfer from the firstapparatus to the second apparatus. The current transfer and/or the datatransfer can employ more than one cable (e.g., two data cables are theinner conduit 320 surrounded by one power cable as the outer conduit310).

The cable 300 can be an alternating current (AC) power cable. AC powercables can be subject to skin effect, which cause the electrical currentto flow along the outer edges of the cable 300 with no current flowingin the center of the cable 300. In one example, 60 Hertz current flowingan aluminum conductor can, in one embodiment, penetrate a depth of about6 millimeters. Therefore, the diameter of the cable 300 can be greaterthan about 12 millimeters—enough to have the depth met and to fit a datacable. The data cable can be made from a more physically vulnerablematerial than the aluminum of the outer conduit 310, such as a fiberoptic cable of one or more strands. With this, the outer conduit 310 canbe a physical protector of the inner conduit 320.

Therefore, in this regard, the center part of the cable 300 has nopurpose and can be eliminated to create a hollow cable 300 with an outerportion 310. The hollowed portion can be filled with a data cable thatfunctions as the inner portion 320. The cable 300 can have terminationconnectors on both ends to allow transfer by way of the inner portion320 and the outer portion 310.

While the cable 300 and the connector 200 of FIG. 2 can be practicedindependently, in one embodiment the cable 300 can terminate with theconnector 200. In one example, prong 210A of FIG. 2 is an electricalcurrent prong and prong 210B of FIG. 2 is a data prong. Also, while thecable 300 is illustrated with electrical current on the outside and dataon the inside, other arrangements can be practiced, including othertransfer (e.g., fluid instead of data on the inner) or other usage(e.g., a flip with data on the outside).

In one embodiment, the cable can terminated in a connector 340. Theconnector 340 can have a female end 350 for the outer conduit 310 and amale end 360 for the inner conduit 320. This can be flipped with theouter conduit 310 having a male end and the inner conduit 320 having afemale end. The conduits 310 and 320 can have same gendered ends as well(both male or both female).

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a system 400 comprising a processor410 and a computer-readable medium 420 (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable medium). In one embodiment, the computer-readablemedium 420 and the processor 410 form at least part of an industrialcontroller configured to control a process of manufacture, such aslaying an inner cable into an outer cable and/or machining an outercable with a hollow center. In one embodiment, the computer-readablemedium 420 is communicatively coupled to the processor 410 and stores acommand set executable by the processor 410 to facilitate operation ofat least one component disclosed herein (e.g., the monitor component 110of FIG. 1). In one embodiment, at least one component disclosed herein(e.g., the management component 120 of FIG. 1) can be implemented, atleast in part, by way of non-software, such as implemented as hardwareby way of the system 400. In one embodiment, the computer-readablemedium 420 is configured to store processor-executable instructions thatwhen executed by the processor 410 cause the processor 410 to perform amethod disclosed herein (e.g., the methods 500-900 addressed below).

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a method 500 comprising two actions510-520. The method 500 can be performed by the cable 300 of FIGS. 3Aand 3B, such as when permanently part of a device. The method 500 caninclude transmitting data at 510 (e.g., by way of the inner conduit 320of FIGS. 3A and 3B). The method 500 can also include transmittingcurrent (e.g., by way of the outer conduit 310 of FIGS. 3A and 3B).

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a method 600 comprising two actions610 and 520. The method 600 can be practiced by the cable 300 of FIGS.3A and 3B, such as when permanently part of a device. In this, the cable300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B can be multi-directional. With this, data can bereceived at 610 in one direction (e.g., to the device) and current canbe transmitted at 520 in another direction (e.g., from the device).

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a method 700 comprising threeactions 710-730. The method 700 can be performed by the system 100 ofFIG. 1 and/or the connector 200 of FIG. 2. In a rest state, at 710,connection can be prevented. A pressure can be experienced and analyzedat 720. In one example, a spring can perform the analysis. There can besome pressure, but not enough to cause the contact 240 of FIG. 2 and thecurrent source connector 250 of FIG. 2 to engage (e.g., touch).Therefore, the pressure is not significant (e.g., does not meet thethreshold) and connection is still prevented. Once the pressure issignificant (e.g., does meet the threshold), then the method 700 cancontinue to 730 where connection occurs.

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a method 800 comprising threeactions 710-720 and 810. The method 800 can be the reverse of the method700 of FIG. 7. At 720, the connection is caused and at 810 a checkoccurs to determine if the pressure is still significant (e.g., stillmeets the threshold). If so, then the connection is still caused at 720.If not, then the method 800 can prevent the connection 710 (e.g., untilsignificant pressure is again received).

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a method 900 comprising two actions910-920. The method 900 can be practiced by the cable 300 of FIGS. 3Aand 3B outfitted with the connector 200 of FIG. 2. At 910, a significantpressure can be experienced and in response, at 920, transfer of currentand data can occur.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cable, comprising: an inner conduit configuredto transfer a data to an apparatus; an outer conduit configured totransfer an electrical current to the apparatus, the outer conduitencompasses the inner conduit; and a connector where the inner conduitand outer conduit terminate at one end, the connector comprising anelectrical prong, the connector comprising a plunger physically coupledto the electrical prong, the connector comprising a spring physicallycoupled to the plunger coupled to the electrical prong, the connectorcomprising a electrical contact physically coupled to the plungercoupled to the electrical prong, and the connector comprising a currentsource connector portion; where the spring is set at a force level suchthat when at rest the electrical contact does not touch the currentsource connector portion, where when the prong engages with anelectrical receptor, the electrical prong experiences a pressure, wherethe pressure is transferred to the plunger, where the pressure causesthe plunger to move the spring to overcome the force level, where whenthe spring overcomes the force level, the electrical contact touches thecurrent source connector portion, where when the electrical contacttouches the current source connector portion, the electrical prong isenergized.
 2. The cable of claim 1, where when the electrical contacttouches the current source connector portion, the electrical currenttransmits along the outer conduit and where the electrical current istransmitted concurrently with the data.
 3. The cable of claim 1, wherewhen the electrical contact stops touching the current source connectorportion after touching the current source connector portion, theelectrical current stops transmission along the outer conduit.
 4. Thecable of claim 1, the connector comprising: a data prong; a secondplunger physically coupled to the data prong; a second spring physicallycoupled to the second plunger coupled to the data prong; a data contactphysically coupled to the second plunger coupled to the data prong; anda data source connector portion; where the second spring is set at asecond force level such that when at rest the data contact does nottouch the data source connector portion, where when the data prongengages with a data receptor, the data prong experiences a secondpressure, where the second pressure is transferred to the secondplunger, where the second pressure causes the second plunger to move thesecond spring to overcome the second force level, where when the secondpressure meets a second threshold, the data contact touches the datasource connector portion, where when the data contact touches the datasource connector portion, the data prong communicates the data.
 5. Thecable of claim 4, where when the second threshold is no longer met afterbeing met, the data stops being communicated along the inner conduit. 6.The cable of claim 4, where the data prong is configured to communicatethe data when the electrical contact does not touch the current sourceconnector portion and therefore the electrical prong is not energized.7. The cable of claim 4, where the electrical prong is configured to beenergized when the data contact does not touch the data source connectorportion and therefore the data prong does not communicate the data. 8.The cable of claim 1, where the inner conduit is configured to: transmitthe data while the outer conduit transmits the electrical current,receive the data while the outer conduit receives the electricalcurrent, transmit the data while the outer conduit receives theelectrical current and receive the data while the outer conduittransmits the electrical current.
 9. A cable, comprising: an innerconduit configured to transfer a data to an apparatus; and an outerconduit configured to transfer an electrical current to the apparatus,an electrical prong; a first plunger physically coupled to theelectrical prong; a first spring physically coupled to the first plungercoupled to the electrical prong; an electrical contact physicallycoupled to the first plunger coupled to the electrical prong; and acurrent source connector coupled to the outer conduit; a data prong; asecond plunger physically coupled to the data prong; a second springphysically coupled to the second plunger coupled to the data prong; adata contact physically coupled to the second plunger coupled to thedata prong; and a data source connector coupled to the inner conduit;where the first spring is set at a first force level such that when atrest the electrical contact does not touch the current source connector,where when the electrical prong engages with an electrical receptor, theelectrical prong experiences a pressure, where the pressure istransferred to the first plunger, where the pressure causes the firstplunger to move the first spring to overcome the force level, where whenthe first spring overcomes the first force level, the electrical contacttouches the current source connector, where when the electrical contacttouches the current source connector, the electrical prong is energizedwhere the second spring is set at a second force level such that when atrest the data contact does not touch the data source connector, wherewhen the data prong engages with a data receptor, the data prongexperiences a second pressure, where the second pressure is transferredto the second plunger, where the second pressure causes the secondplunger to move the second spring to overcome the second force level,where when the second pressure meets a second threshold, the datacontact touches the data source connector, where when the data contacttouches the data source connector, the data prong communicates the data,where inner conduit is configured to transmit the data while the outerconduit transmits the electrical current, where inner conduit isconfigured to receive the data while the outer conduit receives theelectrical current, where inner conduit is configured to transmit thedata while the outer conduit receives the electrical current and whereinner conduit is configured to receive the data while the outer conduittransmits the electrical current, and where the outer conduitencompasses the inner conduit.
 10. The cable of claim 9, where the dataprong is configured to communicate the data when the electrical contactdoes not touch the current source connector and therefore the electricalprong is not energized.
 11. The cable of claim 9, where the electricalprong is configured to be energized when the data contact does not touchthe data source connector and therefore the data prong does notcommunicate the data.
 12. The cable of claim 9, where the data contactis configured to no longer touch the data source connector in responseto the second threshold not being met after being met.
 13. A cableconfigured to connect a first apparatus and a second apparatus, thecable comprising: an outer conduit configured to receiving an electricalcurrent from the first apparatus and transfer the electrical current tothe second apparatus; and an inner conduit configured to transfer afirst data to from the second apparatus to the first apparatus after thesecond apparatus employs the electrical current transferred by the outerconduit to power itself and configured to transfer a second data fromthe first apparatus to the second apparatus; an electrical prong uponwhich the electrical current traverses; a data prong upon which thefirst data and the second data traverses; a first plunger physicallycoupled to the electrical prong; a first spring physically coupled tothe plunger coupled to the electrical prong; an electrical contactphysically coupled to the plunger coupled to the electrical prong; and acurrent source connector; where the outer conduit encompasses the innerconduit, where the first spring is set at a first force level such thatwhen at rest the electrical contact does not touch the current sourceconnector, where when the electrical prong engages with an electricalreceptor, the electrical prong experiences a first pressure, where thefirst pressure is transferred to the first plunger, where the firstpressure causes the first plunger to move the first spring to overcomethe first force level, where when the first spring overcomes the firstforce level, the electrical contact touches the current sourceconnector, where when the electrical contact touches the current sourceconnector, the electrical prong is energized.
 14. The cable of claim 13,comprising: a second plunger physically coupled to the data prong; asecond spring physically coupled to the second plunger coupled to thedata prong; a data contact physically coupled to the second plungercoupled to the data prong; and a data source connector; where the secondspring is set at a second force level such that when at rest the datacontact does not touch the data source connector, where when the dataprong engages with a data receptor, the data prong experiences a secondpressure, where the second pressure is transferred to the secondplunger, where the second pressure causes the second plunger to move thesecond spring to overcome the second force level, where when the secondpressure meets a second threshold, the data contact touches the datasource connector, where when the data contact touches the data sourceconnector, the data prong communicates the data.
 15. The cable of claim14, where the electrical prong is configured to be energized when thedata contact does not touch the data source connector and therefore thedata prong does not communicate the data.
 16. The cable of claim 15,where the data prong is configured to communicate the data when theelectrical contact does not touch the current source connector andtherefore the electrical prong is not energized.